Packing machine



D- ELANDER PACKING MACHINE Dec. 24, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4,

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Filed Nov. 4, 1960 D- ELAN DER PACKING MACHINE Dec. 24, 1963 Filed Nov. 4, 1960 ROTATE |ao INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,115,090 PACKING MACHINE Douglas Elander, Granasen, Hovas, Sweden Filed Nov. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 67,319 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 5, 1959 7 Claims. (Cl. 100-215) This invention relates to a packing machine and more particularly relates to a machine for packaging bundles of folded sheets that may be produced in a book printing operation, or the like.

The packaging of folded sheets that may be produced in an operation such as a book printing operation is, presently, a relatively inefficient manual process. In any folded matter, such as a folded sheet or a folio of pages, the presence of air space at the fold makes the folded sheet pack to a slightly greater thickness than the unfolded edge of the sheet. When the extra thickness is multiplied by the number of folded sheets included in a bundle of such sheets, the difference in thickness becomes appreciable. Heretofore, in the packaging of multiple bundles of folded sheets, it has been necessary to alternate the thick and thin edges of the bundles of sheets to achieve a smoother and more evenly packed package. Such operation is normally carried out manually, at substantial expense.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide a machine which eliminates the said normal manual operation involved in alternating bundles of folded sheets to effect a smooth, evenly packed, compact and stable packaging of folded sheets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine which bundles folded sheets in predetermined quantities and which then alternates the folded edges of successive bundles to provide for effective packaging of multiple bundles of said folded sheets.

In the machine for carrying out of this invention, folded sheets or folded folios are delivered in similar fashion by conveyor at rapid production rates toward a collecting tray at a stacking station. An interrupter temporarily interrupts delivery to the stacking station after a predetermined number of folded pieces have been delivered to the stacking station to define a bundle. The bundle is then moved to an alternating station and the interrupter is withdrawn to again permit feeding of the folded pieces to the stacking station. The alternating station is pivotable, after receiving a bundle, to effect positioning of the folded edge of successive bundles in 0ppositely facing directions. After a bundle is properly positioned at the alternating station, the bundle is advanced to a stacking station. A bundle receiver is provided for receiving a plurality of bundles in a stacked relationship. The bundle at the stacking station is moved into the bundle receiver. After a predetermined number of bundles are stacked in the bundle receiver, the stack of bundles are moved to a compressing station where the stack of bundles are compressed for efficient wrapping or tying into finished packages.

Thus, still another object of this invention is to provide a machine which will effectively perform the combinations and series of operations as aforesaid.

And another object of this invention is to provide a packing machine for bundles of folded sheets, which machine includes an automatically operating alternating means for positioning the folded edges of successive bundles at oppositely facing attitudes, so as to effect efficient stacking of bundles of such folded sheets.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view, with portions broken away, showing the machine of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic line view of the side elevation of FIGURE 1 and more clearly delineates the components of the machine;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective layout which illustrates the movement or flow of folded sheets and bundles through the machine of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective fragmentary layout which illustrates certain parts of the machine which cooperate with the movement of sheets and bundles as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine of this invention includes a frame 10 for supporting the operative components of the machine. The machine is adapted to receive folded sheets, or folios, from an incoming feed conveyor 12, .a fragment of which is shown in FIGURE 1. The folded sheets, or folios, are delivered in similar fashion (at the same attitude) by the conveyor 12 at rapid production rates, and the folded sheets then move onto a transfer conveyor means generally indicated at 14.

The transfer conveyor means includes a lower support conveyor 16, a rearwardly and downwardly inclined upper conveyor 18, the forward end of which is spaced a substantial distance above conveyor 16, for a reason to be explained hereinafter, and a horizontal upper conveyor 20. The sheets discharge from between conveyors 20 and 16 to a sheet stacking station, generally indicated at I. At the sheet stacking station I there are provided upright walls 22 which confine the folded sheets as they are disposed one on top of another in a bundle that rests on a collecting tray 24. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, the collecting tray 24 is formed by a plurality of elongated spaced rods which are connected by a shaft 25 to the piston of a cylinder 26 that is operable under fluid pressure. When the collecting tray 24 is withdrawn, under the influence of cylinder 26, the bundle of collected sheets drops down to an alternating station indicated at II. Stripper means 24a which bridge the rods of tray 24 prevent movement of sheets with tray 24 as the tray is withdrawn.

There is provided an interrupter 28 that is positioned forwardly of the rearmost portion of the inclined upper conveyor 18. The interrupter includes a cylinder 30 and an extensible plunger 32 which is to be selectively actuated to extend forwardly, as shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 1, to interrupt the feed of folded sheets to the sheet stacking station I. The interrupter may be actuated by any appropriate means such as by a counter that is associated with the press that is producing the folded sheets, and the interrupter thus operates to permit the continuous passage of a predetermined number of folded sheets, or folios (for example, twenty-five), to the station I. Then the plunger 32 extends downwardly to temporarily interrupt and prevent further feed of sheets to station I until the bundle of sheets at station I has moved to station II. After the bundle of sheets at stacking station I has moved to station II and the tray 24 is restored to its normal position, the plunger 32 is retracted to permit the passage of the next group of sheets to station I. The forward and upward incline of conveyor 18 relative to support conveyor 16 provides an enlarged space in which the folded sheets accumulate during the period that the plunger 32 is extended.

At the alternating station II there is provided a horizontal support 34 which is spaced vertically below the 3 normal position of tray 24 and which is adapted to receive thereon the bundle of folded sheets that had been accumulated at stacking station I. The support 34 carries a plurality of upright spaced side walls 36 which act to maintain the bundle of folded sheets in alignment. The support 34 is connected to a downwardly extending shaft 38 which is appropriately journaled on the frame and which shaft 38 carries a pinion 40 positioned to be operatively engaged by an elongated rack 42. The rack 42 is connected by shaft 43 to the piston of a cylinder 44 that is operable by fluid pressure. The operation of cylinder 44 is-timed to the delivery of a bundle onto support 34 so that every second bundle that is received on support 34 is pivoted 180 so that the folds of the sheet in successive bundles are positioned and disposed in oppositely facing relationship. Thus, the cylinder 44 operates once for every two bundles delivered onto support 34. The rack 42 is maintained in engagement with pinion 1 t 40 by means of a keeper roller 46.

After the bundles received on support 34 have been properly positioned as above described, the bundle is to be advanced from alternating station II to a stacking station III. There is provided an upright plate 48 which is adapted to sweep laterally above the face of support plate 34. The upright plate 48 is connected by a shaft 49 to a piston of a cylinder 50 that is operable by fluid pressure. The pusher plate 48 operates to move each bundle laterally from station II to station III and is then retracted so the plate 34 is ready to receive the next bundle from the collecting tray 24.

At the stacking station III there is provided a horizontal stacking plate 52 onto which each bundle of sheets moves. The plate 52 is surrounded on three sides, by spaced upright side walls 53a and a back wall 5312, which serve to maintain each bundle of folded sheets in alignment upon the stacking plate 52. The stacking plate 52 is connected by a shaft 54 to the piston of an upright cylinder 55 that is operable under fluid pressure. The actuation of the cylinder 55 moves the plate 52 from station III to a station IV in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bundle as it was advanced from station II to station III. The plate 52 carries arm means 56 which are positioned to cooperate at the end of a cycle with a pivotable rock lever 58 that connects by a linkage with a pivotable arm 59, upon which is pivotally mounted a dog 60 for cooperation with a rotatable ratchet counter 62. The latter arrangement provides a simple counting means for determining the number of bundles that have been moved upwardly by stacking plate 52 into a bundle stacking station, generally indicated at IV, that will be described hereinafter.

The machine includes a bundle receiver generally indicated at 64. The bundle receiver is shaped to define two upright extending bundle-receiving recesses 66a and 66b, the radial outermost edges of which are bounded by releasable retainers 67. The bundle receiver 64 includes frame means 68, the upper sides of which close off the upper ends of the recesses 66a and 66b. The frame 68 is mounted on an upright central shaft 70 that is rotatably mounted on a base 72. The frame 68 carries, and is movable with, a large gear 74, which gear is part of a gear train that includes a pinion 76 meshing with gear 74 and carried on an upright shaft 77 that is appropriately journaled on the frame. Shaft 77 carries a second pinion 78 which is engaged by elongated rack 79, the movement of which operates through the gear train 78, 76 and 74 to effect pivoting of the bundle receiver 64 between a pair of dwell positions wherein the upright bundle-receiving recesses 66a and 66b interchange positions. The rack 79 is actuated by a cylinder 80 that is operable by fluid pressure, and a rack-keeper roller 81 is provided to maintain the rack 79 in engagement with pinion 78.

The frame 68 of the bundle receiver carries thereon a plurality of pivotable bundle supports 82 adjacent each corner of the lower end of each upright recess 66a and 66b. The pivotable supports 82 are arranged to swing aside to permit movement of a bundle of folded sheets upwardly into the bundle-receiving recess 66a or 66b, and then when the stacking plate 52 moves downwardly, the pivotal supports 82 engage the underside of the bundle and keep the bundle within the recess. The corners of plate 52 are recessed to clear the supports 82. This permits repeated action of the stacking plate 52 in stacking a plurality of oppositely disposed bundles within the upright recess 66a at bundle stacking station IV.

After a predetermined number of bundles have been stacked in alternating arrangement within the upright recess 66a at station IV, the cylinder is actuated to effect pivoting of the bundle receiver 64 through 180, so that the recesses 66a and 66b reverse their positions. The filled bundle-receiving recess 66a is then positioned at a compressing station indicated at V, where the stack of bundles may be compressed and packaged. The releasable retainer 67 then permits withdrawal of the stack of bundles from recess 66a.

In the packaging of the stack of bundles within the recess 66a there may be inserted a hardboard packing plate above the upper end of the stack of bundles, and a second hardboard packing plate may be disposed on the face of a pressure plate 84 which is positioned below the recess 66a when it is positioned at the compressing station V. The pressure plate 84 is connected by shaft 85 to the piston of a compressing cylinder 86 that is operable under fluid pressure. Upon appropriate actuation that may be manually controlled, the plate 84 is caused to move upwardly into the recess 66a to compress the stack of bundles therein against the upper plate 69. Then the compressed stack of bundles may be tied by any appropnate means, such as manually or by machine, and then upon releasing the pressure in cylinder 86 the packaged stack of bundles may be withdrawn radially from the bundlereceiving recess 66a. In the meantime, additional bundles are being moved into the recess 6612 which is now positioned at the bundle stacking station IV.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the machine herein provides means for delivering folded sheets, or folios, at the same attitude to a stacking station wherein a bundle of such sheets are stacked and the bundle is then moved to an alternating station where alternate bundles are disposed with the folded edges of successive bundles facing in opposite directions. Then the bundles are delivered singly in a first direction to a stacking station where each bundle is then moved in a second direction, transverse to said first direction, to a bundle stacking station, whereat a plurality of alternated bundles are stacked in a compact and evenly packaged stack. After a predetermined number of bundles are arranged in the stack, the stack moves automatically to a final compressing station where the stack is compressed preparatory to be tied and packaged for storage or shipment. The entire operation is automatic and effects substantial saving in the labor heretofore used in performing the foregoing operations.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A packing machine for bundling folded sheets, said packing machine comprising, in combination: conveyor means for delivering folded sheets in similar successive relation to a sheet stacking station; means at said sheet stacking station for stacking a plurality of folded sheets into similar bundles with the folds of each sheet of a bundle adjacent other sheet folds along one edge of the bundle; means for separately delivering each bundle of sheets to an alternating station at which alternate bundles are to be disposed in oppositely facing directions; a horizontally-disposed support means at said alternating station for receiving each bundle of sheets, one bundle at a time; pivoting means for pivoting the support means after it receives each bundle of sheets for disposing alternate bundles in opposite directions; reciprocating bundle advancing means for moving each bundle at its said disposed attitude from said support means in a first horizontal direction to a bundle stacking station, thereby leaving the support means prepared to receive a new bundle; receiver means for receiving bundles one at a time to arrange a plurality of bundles in a stacked relationship; and reciprocating transfer means located between said support means and said receiver means for moving a plurality of bundles, one at a time, in a second direction transverse to said first direction, into said receiver means to stack the bundles.

2. A packing machine for bundling folded sheets, said packing machine comprising, in combination: conveyor means for delivering folded sheets in similar successive relation to a sheet stacking station; means at said sheet stacking station for stacking a plurality of folded sheets into similar bundles with the folds of each sheet of a bundle adjacent other sheet folds along one edge of the bundle; means for separately delivering each bundle of sheets to an alternating station at which alternate bundles are to be disposed in oppositely facing directions; a horizontally-disposed support means at said alternating station for receiving each bundle of sheets, one bundle at a time; pivoting means for pivoting the support means after it receives each bundle of sheets for disposing alternate bundles in opposite directions; reciprocating bundle advancing means for moving each bundle at its said disposed attitude from said support means in a first horizontal direction to a bundle stacking station, thereby leaving the support means prepared to receive a new bundle; rotatable receiver means having a pair of compartments for receiving bundles, one at a time, to arrange a plurality of bundles in a stacked relationship; transfer means located between said support means and said receiver means for moving a plurality of bundles, one at a time, in a second direction transverse to said first direction, into one of said compartments in said receiver means to stack the bundles; means for rotating the receiver means after the bundles are stacked in one compartment to align the other compartment with said transfer means; and pressure means for compressing the stacked bundles in said one compartment in the receiver means for eflicient packaging of a plurality of bundles.

3. A packing machine for bundling folded sheets, said packing machine comprising, in combination: conveyor means for delivering folded sheets in similar successive relation to a sheet stacking station; means at said sheet stacking station for stacking a plurality of folded sheets into similar bundles with the folds of each sheet of a bundle adjacent other sheet folds along one edge of the bundle; means for separately delivering'each bundle of sheets to an alternating station at which alternate bundles are to be disposed in oppositely facing directions; a horizontally-disposed support means at said alternating station for receiving each bundle of sheets, one bundle at a time; pivoting means for pivoting the support means after it receives each bundle of sheets for disposing alternate bundles in opposite directions; reciprocating bundle advancing means for moving each bundle at its said disposed attitude from said support means in a first direction to a bundle stacking station thereby leaving the support means prepared to receive a new bundle; a plurality of receivers for receiving bundles one at a time to arrange a plurality of bundles in a stacked relationship; means for moving each of the receivers into a plurality of positions at one of which positions the receiver receives a plurality of bundles in a stack and at another of said stations the stack of bundles is to be compressed for packaging; transfer means located between said support means and said receivers for moving each bundle,

6 one at a time, in a second direction transverse to said first direction, into a receiver; and means for compressing the stacked bundles in a receiver for efficient packaging of a plurality of bundles.

4. A packing machine for bundling folded sheets, said packing machine comprising, in combination: conveyor means for delivering folded sheets in similar successive relation to a sheet stacking station; means at said sheet stacking station for stacking a plurality of folded sheets into bundles with the folds of each sheet of a bundle adjacent other sheet folds along one edge of the bundle; means movable selectively transverse to said conveyor means for temporarily interrupting delivery of folded sheets to said sheet stacking station after a predetermined number of sheets have been delivered to said station; means for separately delivering each bundle of sheets to an alternating station at which alternate bundles are to be disposed in oppositely facing directions, said alternating station comprising horizontally-disposed support means pivoted about an upright axis; pivoting means operative after each bundle is received at said alternating station for disposing alternate bundles in opposite directions; bundle advancing means for moving each bundle at its said disposed attitude from said alternating station in a first horizontal direction to a bundle stacking station; a bundle receiver for receiving a plurality of bundles in a stacked relationship; and means for moving a plurality of bundles, one at a time in a second direction transverse to said first direction, into said bundle receiver.

5. A packing machine for bundling folded sheets, said packing machine comprising, in combination: means for delivering a predetermined number of folded sheets into a stacked bundle with the folds of each sheet of the bundle adjacent each other along one edge of the bundle; means movable selectively transverse to said conveyor means for temporarily interrupting delivery of sheets after the predetermined number of sheets have been delivered to form a bundle; generally horizontally-disposed support means for receiving each bundle of stacked sheets one at a time and from whence each bundle is discharged one at a time; means for pivoting the support means about an upright axis after each bundle is received to dispose alternate bundles in opposed directions; means for advancing said bundles from the horizontally-disposed support means to permit the next bundle to move onto the support means; and means for arranging the oppositely disposed bundles in a stacked relation.

6. A packing machine for bundling folded sheets, said packing machine comprising, in combination: continuous conveyor means for delivering folded sheets in similar successive relation to a sheet stacking station; means at said sheet stacking station for stacking a plurality of folded sheets into a bundle with the folds of each sheet of a bundle adjacent other sheet folds along one edge of the bundle; means movable selectively transverse to said conveyor means for temporarily interrupting delivery of folded sheets to said sheet stacking station after a predetermined number of sheets have been delivered to said station, whereby a plurality of folded sheets would be accumulated at the interrupting means by the continuous action of the conveyor means; and said conveyor means providing an enlarged space in which folded sheets may be accumulated by the interrupting means; an alternating station at which alternate bundles are to be disposed in oppositely facing directions, said alternating station comprising a horizontally-disposed support means pivotable about an upright axis; pivoting means operative after each bundle is received at said alternating station to pivot said support means for disposing alternate bundles in opposite directions; bundle advancing means for moving said bundles from the support means at their said disposed attitude from said alternating station in a first horizontal direction to a bundle stacking station; a bundle receiver; and means for moving each bundle, in a second 7 direction transverse to said first direction, into said bundle receiver.

7. A packing machine for bundling folded sheets, said packing machine comprising, in combination, means for feeding folded sheets at a uniform attitude; means adjacent said feeding means for stacking a plurality of folded sheets into bundles with the folds of each sheet of a bundle adjacent each other along one edge of the bundle, horizontally-disposed support means below said stacking means for receiving each bundle of stacked sheets, said support means being pivotally mounted about an upright axis; means for delivering each bundle of sheets to the support means; means for pivoting said support means after each bundle is received to dispose alternate bundles in opposed directions; means for receiving oppositely disposed bundles in a stacked relation; and bundle advancing means for moving said oppositely disposed bundles edgewise from the horizontally-disposed support means to the receiving means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,667 Streun Aug. 15, 1939 2,179,535 Wolff Nov. 14, 1939 2,606,483 Forbes Aug. 12, 1952 2,819,661 Howdle et al. Jan. 14, 1958 2,842,035 Larkin July 8, 1958 2,943,539 Lytle et al. July 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 214,118 Australia Mar. 27, 1958 838,874 Germany May 12, 1952 

2. A PACKING MACHINE FOR BUNDLING FOLDED SHEETS, SAID PACKING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: CONVEYOR MEANS FOR DELIVERING FOLDED SHEETS IN SIMILAR SUCCESSIVE RELATION TO A SHEET STACKING STATION; MEANS AT SAID SHEET STACKING STATION FOR STACKING A PLURALITY OF FOLDED SHEETS INTO SIMILAR BUNDLES WITH THE FOLDS OF EACH SHEET OF A BUNDLE ADJACENT OTHER SHEET FOLDS ALONG ONE EDGE OF THE BUNDLE; MEANS FOR SEPARATELY DELIVERING EACH BUNDLE OF SHEETS TO AN ALTERNATING STATION AT WHICH ALTERNATE BUNDLES ARE TO BE DISPOSED IN OPPOSITELY FACING DIRECTIONS; A HORIZONTALLY-DISPOSED SUPPORT MEANS AT SAID ALTERNATING STATION FOR RECEIVING EACH BUNDLE OF SHEETS, ONE BUNDLE AT A TIME; PIVOTING MEANS FOR PIVOTING THE SUPPORT MEANS AFTER IT RECEIVES EACH BUNDLE OF SHEETS FOR DISPOSING ALTERNATE BUNDLES IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; RECIPROCATING BUNDLE ADVANCING MEANS FOR MOVING EACH BUNDLE AT ITS SAID DISPOSED ATTITUDE FROM SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN A FIRST HORIZONTAL DIRECTION TO A BUNDLE STACKING STATION, THEREBY LEAVING THE SUPPORT MEANS PREPARED TO RECEIVE A NEW BUNDLE; ROTATABLE RECEIVER MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF COMPARTMENTS FOR RECEIVING BUNDLES, ONE AT A TIME, TO ARRANGE A PLURALITY OF 